A new global conservation initiative backed by actor and environmental advocate Leonardo DiCaprio and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is committing $200 million to protect 100 of the world’s most critically endangered species, marking what organizers describe as the largest single conservation fund ever dedicated exclusively to preventing species extinction.
The initiative, known as the Phoenix Species Project, is being led by the environmental organizations Re:wild and the Bezos Earth Fund. The partners announced the ambitious program on Tuesday, positioning it as a landmark investment in biodiversity conservation at a time when climate change, habitat destruction and human activity continue to threaten wildlife across the globe.
The project reflects years of planning led by DiCaprio, who has long championed environmental causes through his conservation work. His organization, Re:wild, has collaborated with scientists, governments, Indigenous communities and environmental organizations to develop a long term strategy focused on species facing the highest risk of extinction.
The idea gained momentum in 2021 when DiCaprio and Re:wild cofounder and Chief Executive Officer Wes Sechrest met with Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos. As chair and vice chair of the Bezos Earth Fund, the couple joined discussions that expanded into a broader international collaboration involving conservation experts and local stakeholders.
Those conversations ultimately evolved into the Phoenix Species Project, an initiative designed to provide sustained financial support, scientific expertise and global visibility for conservation programs that have historically struggled with limited resources.
The $200 million fund will support recovery efforts for some of the world’s rarest animals across multiple continents. Among the species receiving protection are Madagascar’s golden crowned sifaka, the Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander from the United States, the Visayan warty pig native to the Philippines, Mexico’s Cozumel harvest mouse, the pink land iguana found in the Galápagos Islands, the Malayan pangolin of Southeast Asia, Tanzania’s pancake tortoise, Colombia’s starry night harlequin toad and Attenborough’s long beaked echidna from New Guinea.
Organizers say the project aims to strengthen existing conservation programs by providing long term funding rather than short term grants. The approach is intended to help conservation organizations build lasting recovery plans instead of relying on temporary financial support.
“We’ve protected the golden crowned sifaka for years on a budget that would never match what this species deserves, but letting it go extinct was never an option,” said Tiana Andriamanana, Executive Director of Association Fanamby, one of the organizations receiving support through the initiative.
“This funding, this global platform and technical support change what is possible,” she added.
Beyond wildlife conservation, the Phoenix Species Project highlights the growing influence of private philanthropy in tackling global environmental challenges. With governments facing increasing financial pressures, major foundations are playing a more significant role in protecting biodiversity and supporting sustainable ecosystems.
For Africa and other biodiversity rich regions, the initiative also underscores the importance of partnerships between philanthropists, local conservation groups, Indigenous communities and scientific institutions. As climate change accelerates biodiversity loss, long term investment is increasingly viewed as essential to preserving ecosystems that support livelihoods, tourism and economic resilience.
The Phoenix Species Project represents a significant shift toward coordinated global conservation, demonstrating how strategic private capital can help reverse decades of species decline while creating a stronger framework for environmental protection worldwide.
